View source for Flinch

[[File:Paul Chimchar flinch.png|thumb|250px|[[Paul's Chimchar]] flinching]]
'''Flinch''' (Japanese: '''ひるみ''' ''Flinch'') is a transient [[status condition]] in which a Pokémon becomes unable to execute a move for one turn.

==Effect==
The flinch status is a one-turn status that prevents a Pokémon from executing a move. A Pokémon can flinch only if it is hit by another Pokémon's attacking move before using its move. Most moves that cause flinching are [[physical move]]s.

Pokémon with {{a|Inner Focus}} cannot flinch. If a Pokémon with Inner Focus is hit by a move that always causes flinching, the message '''"<Pokémon>'s <sc>Inner Focus</sc> prevents flinching!"''' ([[Generation III]]) or '''"<Pokémon> won't flinch because of its Inner Focus!"''' ([[Generation IV]]) appears. Due to flinching always occurring as an additional effect, having {{a|Shield Dust}} or holding a [[Covert Cloak]] also prevents the user from flinching. However, {{cat|Moves that ignore Abilities|moves}} and {{cat|Abilities that ignore other Abilities|Abilities that ignore Abilities}} can bypass these Abilities. 

Pokémon with {{a|Steadfast}} gain {{stat|Speed}} each time they flinch. 

[[Dynamax]] Pokémon and [[Tera Raid Battle]] bosses are immune to flinching.

===Generation II===
A Pokémon holding a [[King's Rock]] has a 12% chance of causing a target to flinch when using certain moves.

If the Pokémon uses a [[multistrike move]], only the final strike has a chance of causing the target to flinch from King's Rock.

In this generation only, {{status|sleep}}ing and {{status|freeze|frozen}} Pokémon cannot flinch when hit by moves that cause flinching (but can flinch via King's Rock), and are thus able to successfully execute {{m|Sleep Talk}} or {{m|Snore}} regardless.

===Generations III and IV===
A Pokémon holding a King's Rock or [[Razor Fang]] has a 10% chance of causing a target to flinch when using the moves affected by these items.

Each strike of a multistrike move has an independent chance of causing the target to flinch from King's Rock or Razor Fang.

===Generation V onward===
A Pokémon with {{a|Stench}} has a 10% chance of making its target flinch when it uses an attacking move. This does not stack with King's Rock, Razor Fang, or moves that already have a chance to cause flinching.

Each strike of a multistrike move has an independent chance of causing the target to flinch from Stench.

A Pokémon holding a King's Rock or Razor Fang has a 10% chance of causing a target to flinch when using any attacking move that does not already have a chance to cause flinching. The chance of flinching from King's Rock and Razor Fang is affected by {{a|Serene Grace}} and the rainbow created by {{m|Fire Pledge}} and {{m|Water Pledge}}.

==Cause==
{{incomplete|section|Items and Abilities}}
===Moves===
The following moves may cause their targets to flinch, but only if the user of the moves hits first.

{| width="100%" class="roundy" style="margin:auto; background:#{{normal color}}; border:5px solid #{{normal color light}}"
|-
| 
{| border=1 width="100%" class="sortable roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:center; background:#FFF; border:1px solid #{{normal color}}; border-collapse:collapse"
|- 
! Move
! [[Type]]
! [[Damage category|Category]]
! Probability
! [[Power]]
! [[Accuracy]]
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Air Slash}}
{{typetable|Flying}}
{{statustable|Special}}
| 30%
| 75
| 95%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Astonish}}
{{typetable|Ghost}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 30
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Bite}}
{{typetable|Dark}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 60
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Bone Club}}
{{typetable|Ground}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 10%
| 65
| 85%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Dark Pulse}}
{{typetable|Dark}}
{{statustable|Special}}
| 20%
| 80
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Double Iron Bash}}
{{typetable|Steel}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 60
| 100%
| class="l" | Each hit has a separate chance of flinching
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Dragon Rush}}
{{typetable|Dragon}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 20%
| {{tt|100|200 if the target has used Minimize (Generation VI)}}
| {{tt|75%|Never misses if the target has used Minimize (Generation VI)}}
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Extrasensory}}
{{typetable|Psychic}}
{{statustable|Special}}
| 10%
| 80
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Fake Out}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 100%
| 40
| 100%
| class="l" | [[Priority|Always goes first]]; only works if it is the user's first turn
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Fiery Wrath}}
{{typetable|Dark}}
{{statustable|Special}}
| 20%
| 90
| 100%
| class="l" | 
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Fire Fang}}
{{typetable|Fire}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 10%
| 65
| 95%
| class="l" | May also cause burn (10% chance)
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Fling}}
{{typetable|Dark}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 100%
| 30
| 100%
| class="l" | Only if [[King's Rock]] or [[Razor Fang]] is held by user
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Floaty Fall}}
{{typetable|Flying}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 90
| 95%
| 
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Headbutt}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 70
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Heart Stamp}}
{{typetable|Psychic}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 60
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Hyper Fang}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 10%
| 80
| 90%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Ice Fang}}
{{typetable|Ice}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 10%
| 65
| 95%
| class="l" | May also cause freeze (10% chance)
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Icicle Crash}}
{{typetable|Ice}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 85
| 90%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Iron Head}}
{{typetable|Steel}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 80
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Low Kick}}
{{typetable|Fighting}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 50<!--in Generation I-->
| 90%<!--in Generation I-->
| class="l" | Generations I and II only
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Mountain Gale}}
{{typetable|Ice}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 100
| 85%
| 
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Needle Arm}}
{{typetable|Grass}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 60
| 100%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Rock Slide}}
{{typetable|Rock}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 75
| 90%
| class="l" | [[Generation II]] onward
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Rolling Kick}}
{{typetable|Fighting}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 60
| 85%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Secret Power}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 70
| 100%
| class="l" | May cause flinching only when used in [[cave]]s, on rocky terrain (Generation {{gen|IV}} and {{gen|V}}), in burial grounds ([[Generation VI]]), or in space
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Sky Attack}}
{{typetable|Flying}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 140
| 90%
| class="l" | [[Generation III]] onward
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Snore}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Special}}
| 30%
| {{tt|50|40 in Generations II-V}} 
| 100%
| class="l" | Fails if the user is not asleep
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Steamroller}}
{{typetable|Bug}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| {{tt|65|130 if the target has used Minimize}}
| {{tt|100%|Never misses if the target has used Minimize (Generation VI)}}
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Stomp}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| {{tt|65|130 if the target has used Minimize}}
| {{tt|100%|Never misses if the target has used Minimize (Generation VI)}}
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Thunder Fang}}
{{typetable|Electric}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 10%
| 65
| 95%
| class="l" | May also cause paralysis (10% chance)
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Triple Arrows}}
{{typetable|Fighting}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 90
| 100%
| class="l" | [[Generation IX]] onward<br>May also lower Defense (50% chance)
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Twister}}
{{typetable|Dragon}}
{{statustable|Special}}
| 20%
| {{tt|40|80 if the target is using Fly or Bounce}}
| 100%
| class="l" | Can hit targets using {{m|Fly}}, {{m|Bounce}}, or {{m|Sky Drop}}
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Waterfall}}
{{typetable|Water}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 20%
| 80
| 100%
| class="l" | [[Generation IV]] onward
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Zen Headbutt}}
{{typetable|Psychic}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 20%
| 80
| 90%
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Zing Zap}}
{{typetable|Electric}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 30%
| 80
| 100%
|
|}
|}

==In the spin-off games==
===Mystery Dungeon series===
In the [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series]], the Pokémon cannot use any regular attacks, special attacks, or orbs, but may throw items. If in the middle of a linked move, the rest of the linked move is skipped. Before {{pkmn|Super Mystery Dungeon}}, it was referred to as '''Cringe'''.

{{m|Quash}} inflicts the Flinch status on the target as its sole effect in Mystery Dungeon.

==In the anime==
[[File:Cynthia Togekiss Serene Grace.png|thumb|250px|{{AP|Pikachu}} flinching in the {{pkmn|anime}}]]
In ''[[EP249|I Politoed Ya So!]]'', [[Misty's Politoed]] made [[Jessie's Arbok]] flinch with {{m|Headbutt}}.

In ''[[DP015|Shapes of Things to Come!]]'', [[Paul's Chimchar]] flinched when [[Roark's Cranidos]] used {{m|Zen Headbutt}} on him, preventing him from carrying out [[Paul]]'s order to use {{m|Dig}}.

In ''[[DP081|Chim - Charred!]]'', {{Ash}}'s {{p|Chimchar}} flinched when [[Paul's Ursaring]] used {{m|Secret Power}} on him on a rocky terrain.

In ''[[DP128|A Pyramiding Rage!]]'', [[Paul's Magmar]] flinched when [[Brandon's legendary giants#Registeel|Brandon's Registeel]] hit it with {{m|Iron Head}}, preventing it from carrying out [[Paul]]'s order to use {{m|Will-O-Wisp}}. This forced him to [[recall]] Magmar and send {{p|Nidoking}} out in its place.

In ''[[DP177|A Grand Fight for Winning!]]'', during the finals of the [[Sinnoh Grand Festival]], [[Dawn's Piplup]] was made to flinch when [[Zoey's Glameow]] hit him with {{m|Fake Out}}, preventing him from being able to use {{m|Hydro Pump}}.

In ''[[BW079|Caution: Icy Battle Conditions!]]'', [[Ash's Krokorok]] flinched when [[Brycen]]'s {{p|Vanillish}} hit him with {{m|Astonish}}.

In ''[[JN116|Pride of a Champion!]]'', [[Diantha]]'s {{p|Gourgeist}} flinched when {{an|Lance}}'s {{p|Hydreigon}} scored a hit on it with {{m|Dark Pulse}}.

In ''[[JN123|Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder!]]'', [[Ash's Pikachu]] flinched when {{an|Cynthia}}'s {{p|Togekiss}} hit him with {{m|Air Slash}}, the flinch chance getting boosted by Togekiss's {{a|Serene Grace}}. This prevented Pikachu from being able to use {{m|Electroweb}} and left him open to get hit by a {{m|Zen Headbutt}}. In [[JN124|the next episode]], Togekiss attempted to also make [[Ash's Lucario]] flinch, but it resisted flinching thanks to it possessing {{a|Inner Focus}}.
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==In the manga==
[[File:Wally Kecleon Astonish Adventures.png|thumb|200px|{{TP|Norman|Slaking}} flinching in [[Pokémon Adventures]]]]
===Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!===
In [[PBK7]], {{OBP|Shin|PBK}}'s {{p|Tyrogue}} used {{m|Fake Out}} on [[Yū Shirogane|Yū]]'s {{p|Heatran}}, causing it to flinch.

===Pokémon Adventures===
===={{MangaArc|Ruby & Sapphire}}====
In ''[[PS247|The Beginning of the End with Kyogre & Groudon IX]]'', [[Brawly's Hariyama]] used Fake Out to make [[Blaise]]'s two {{p|Slugma}} flinch.

In ''[[PS258|Rayquaza Redemption I]]'', {{adv|Wally}}'s {{p|Kecleon}} caused [[Norman's Slaking]] to flinch with {{m|Astonish}}.

===={{MangaArc|Sword & Shield}}====
In ''[[PASS11|Gulp Gulp!! Pokémon]]'', a {{pkmn2|wild}} {{p|Cramorant}} flinched after [[Hop]] had his {{p|Pincurchin}} use {{m|Zing Zap}} on it.
{{-}}

==In the TCG==
Flinching does not exist in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]]. However, the recurring {{TCG|attack}} {{m|Fake Out}} inflicts the {{TCG|Special Condition}} {{DL|Paralysis (status condition)|In the TCG|Paralyzed}} on a successful {{TCG|coin}} flip. This suggests that Flinching is replaced by Paralyzed in the TCG.

==In other languages==
{{langtable|color={{normal color}}|bordercolor={{normal color dark}}
|zh_cmn=畏縮 / 畏缩 ''{{tt|Wèisuō|Flinch}}''
|zh_yue=畏縮 ''{{tt|Waisūk|Flinch}}''
|fi=Pelko
|de=Zurückschrecken
|pt_br=Recuar
|es=Amedrentado<sup>Gen. VIII</sup><br/>Retroceder<sup>Gen. I-VII</sup>
|fr=Peur
|it=Tentennamento
|ko=풀죽음 ''Puljugeum''
}}

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[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]

[[es:Amedrentado]]
[[fr:Statut#Peur]]
[[it:Tentennamento]]
[[ja:ひるみ]]
[[zh:畏缩（状态）]]